(Newser)
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American Sniper didn't just set a box-office record this weekend. It also triggered debate among Hollywood honchos apparently offended by the flick—who then said they really weren't, USA Today reports. Seth Rogen, for one, tweeted yesterday that the film "kind of reminds me of the movie that's showing in the third act of Inglorious Basterds," a reference to Nazi propaganda of a German sniper shooting Allied soldiers. But Rogen today tweeted, "I just said something 'kinda reminded' me of something else. I actually liked American Sniper." Enter Michael Moore, who posted:

"My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r worse"

That inspired tweets from Newt Gingrich ("Michael Moore should spend a few weeks with ISIS and Boko Haram") and Rob Lowe ("He's kidding, right?"). So Moore wrote a Facebook post in which he blamed Deadline Hollywood and the Hollywood Reporter for making it seem like "I don't like" the film. He goes on to laud Bradley Cooper, the costumes, hair, makeup, and editing, but adds: "Oh... and too bad Clint [Eastwood] gets Vietnam and Iraq confused in his storytelling. And that he has his characters calling Iraqis 'savages' throughout the film." Fox News reports on an "odd source" of American Sniper support—Jane Fonda—who tweets: "Powerful. Another view of 'Coming Home.' Bradley Cooper sensational. Bravo Clint Eastwood." (See how many calories Cooper ate per day to play the part of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle.)

I find it so bizarre that even Hollywood, that bastion of liberalness, so often bends over backward to accommodate political correctness. I guess the desire for box office profits is too much for even it.

tpvero

Jan 20, 2015 2:52 PM CST

Newser regular S. Jay posted a pretty good link below. We can't get carried away with this story and insist a Hollywood movie is truth or it represents our patriotism, but a film is not patriotism. The real Kyle was a hater and says so in his book. He just likes to kill. He says so in his book. This is not hero. Eastwood made him a hero to sell movie tickets and that is wrong and Bradly Cooper as a producer is in on the deception. It is something I must think less of him for. Cooper is just another ambitious actor who cares more about fame than truth . (Or he never read the book.) The real Kyle was not a nice guy. The odd way he died makes a case for Karmic retribution. We the people have to produce an upright and honorable nation, not one that tells itself pretty little lies. http://www.theweek.co.uk/film/62133/american-sniper-five-things-the-film-gets-wrong